Rock Hudson - Filmbug Rock Hudson Rock Hudson Roy Harold Scherer Jr. (November 17, 1925 - October 2, 1985), better known as Rock Hudson, was an American actor. Born in Winnetka, Illinois, Hudson was the first major American celebrity to admit to being afflicted with AIDS. His announcement, and subsequent death from the disease, brought the disease and HIV into the mainstream of American consciousness. Hudson served in the United States Navy during World War II as an airplane mechanic. His good looks and strapping size got him a Hollywood audition, and some capped teeth and a name change got him a small part in the forgettable 1948 film Fighter Squadron. His one line took 38 takes, because he kept forgetting it. In 1956 he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor, and two years later, Look Magazine named him "Star of the Year". During the 1950s and 1960s, Hudson was known for several fluffy comedies, largely starring with Doris Day . The two made Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back and Send Me No Flowers together.

Hudson married studio employee Phyllis Gates in 1955, and the news was made known by all the major gossip magazines. The couple divorced in 1958. The truth of the matter is, though, that the studio was using this sham marriage in order to cover Hudson's homosexuality, which would have made him box office poison at the time if it were made known. Hudson continued to have a hidden gay life for the rest of his life, until his homosexuality became known. Following Hudson's death, his live-in lover filed a palimony lawsuit against his estate. Hudson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6104 Hollywood Blvd. Note: This profile was written in or before 2003. Rock Hudson Facts General Knowledge Quiz - By Zarbo84 The fictional character John Clayton is better known by what name? La Paz is the administrative capital of which South American country? Actor Charles Buchinsky was better known by what name? The medical condition ‘aphonia’ is the inability to do what? In Greek mythology, Pygmalion was the king of which Island? Who played the title role in the 1953 film ‘The Glenn Miller Story’?

A third wedding anniversary is traditionally represented by which material? In the Bible, what sign did God give Noah that the earth would not be flooded again? In August 2011 NASA announced that photographic evidence had been captured of possible liquid water of which planet in our solar system? The restored tomb of which dramatist was unveiled in Paris in November 2011, after being ruined by lipstick smears left by thousands of kisses? What was the name of the hurricane which hit the East Coast of America in August 2011? On 11th March 2011 a 9.1 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit the east of which country? Convict George Joseph Smith was known as the ‘Brides in the ‘what’ murderer’? In the human body, Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis is commonly known by what name? A peregrine is what type of bird? What is the name of the highly toxic protein obtained from the pressed seeds of the castor oil plant? Which British pop musician/actor was actress Sadie Frost’s first husband? British singer Gaynor Hopkins is better known by what name?

Who played Ron Kovic in the 1989 film ‘Born on the Fourth of July’? Ben Gurion International Airport is in which country? Which basketball star is kidnapped by cartoon characters in the 1996 film ‘Space Jam’? In the tv series The A Team, what does B.A. stand for in the name B.A. Baracus? In medicine, metritis is the inflammation of which part of the body? In which year was the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in the USA? In the human body, where is the atrium? The OK Corral is in which US town? In Greek mythology, Amphitrite, queen of the sea, was the wife of which god? Which British boxer bought one of the original ‘Only Fools and Horses’ Reliant Robins in 2004? Actor Roy Harold Scherer was better known by what name? Anna Gordy was the first wife of which late soul singer? Who played Heinrich Himmler in the 1976 film ‘The Eagle Has Landed’? Which is the fastest rotating planet in our solar system? Which country was invaded by Iraq in 1990?

Cobalt, Cyan and Cerulean are shades of which colour? In 1936, Joseph Bowers was the first inmate to attempt an escape from which prison? In the 18th Century, the British Royal Navy ordered limes and lemons to be carried on board ships as a remedy for which disease? In which US state were the 1692 Witch Trials held? Question Who was the father of English monarch Edward VI? Vermicide is a substance used for killing which creatures? Miss Gatsby and Miss Tibbs were two elderly residents in which UK tv sitcom? Who was US actor Mickey Rooney’s first wife? The resort town of Sliema is on which Mediterranean island? In the Bible, what is the Decalogue more commonly known as? In Greek mythology, Hypnos was the god of what? Which real-life couple starred in the 1994 remake of the film ‘The Getaway’? American 1940′s murder victim Elizabeth Short was known by what posthumous nickname? British monarch Henry VIII married which of his wives in 1540? In February 1983 which US writer choked to death on the cap from a bottle of eye drops?

Which US gangster was released from Alcatraz prison in November 1939? Who built the Roman wall which divided England and Scotland? In the human body, the hallux is more commonly known by what name? The liqueur Maraschino is flavoured with which fruit? Which famous US outlaw shot the cashier of a savings bank in Gallatin Missouri in 1869? Kathmandu is the capital of which country? TAP is the chief airline of which European country? In November 2002, which member of the British royal family was convicted and fined for violating the Dangerous Dogs Act? Tommy Lee plays which instrument in the band Motley Crue? The Wang River is in which Asian country? Who played Danny Ocean in the 1960 film ‘Ocean’s Eleven’? In which US state was the late singer Michael Jackson born? According to the Bible, what was the first bird to be sent out of the Ark by Noah? Which famous racehorse is buried next to the finishing post of the Aintree Racecourse? Winston Churchill’s tribute ‘Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few’, was paid to which of the UK’s armed forces?

The company Starbucks is reportedly named after a character in which novel? What was the name of the 42 year old African-American who became famous for refusing to give her seat up to a white bus passenger in Alabama in 1955? In 1954, which British athlete broke the Four Minute Mile? Which film, starring Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr, was released in June 1956? The infamous Insein Prison is in which Asian country? Which heavyweight boxing champion retired in April 1956 without losing a professional boxing match? Who played Davy Crockett in the 1960 film ‘The Alamo’? ‘Better to die than be a coward’ is the motto of which British Army regiment? An apple seed contains which poisonous substance? In which English city was the UK tv soap ‘Albion Market’ set? In June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austria-Hungary throne, was assassinated in which Bosnian province? Question TogetherWeServed - Raymond Harold Scherer Jr, ADAN Additional Information Last Known Activity Actor.

Born Roy Harold Scherer Jr., his father abandoned his family during the depths of the Great Depression in the early 1930s. His mother remarried and his stepfather adopted him. Following a stint in the United States Navy during World War II, he moved to California to get into the motion picture business. For a couple of years, he drove a truck, among other odd jobs to support himself. In 1948 he met Henry Willson, a powerful Hollywood agent. Impressed by his stature and good looks, Willson renamed him Rock Hudson and sent him to acting school. His first movie, "Fighter Squadron" marked the beginning of a career that lasted more than 30 years. In 1955 Hudson married Phyllis Gates, the secretary of his agent; the union lasted three years. Hudson made many films in the 1950s, but he became one of the top box office stars of the early 1960s, frequently appearing in films with Doris Day. His death at 59 of complications from AIDS astounded many of his fans. He was the first major public figure to acknowledge openly that he was suffering from the disease.

(bio by: MC) Other Comments: Biography His immaculate good looks, suave sophistication and stunning influence captured the hearts and minds of fans everywhere. As one of the most dashing silver screen stars of the 1950s and 1960s, Rock Hudson was the epitome of Hollywood’s leading man. Rock Hudson was born Roy Harold Scherer Jr. on November 17, 1925 in Winnetka, Illinois. His father, an auto mechanic, left the family when Rock was eight years old. Rock’s mother, a telephone operator named Katherine Wood, was left to raise her son alone until she remarried Wallace Fitzgerald a few years later. Rock took his stepfather’s name when Fitzgerald adopted him, making his name Roy Fitzgerald. During his school years, Rock decided to become an actor, although he did not immediately pursue his goal. After graduating high school, Rock worked for the United States Postal Service before entering the Navy to serve as an airplane mechanic during World War II. When he arrived back in America after the war, Rock moved to California, where he had various jobs including driving a truck and working for a moving company.

Rock began to pursue an acting career by sending his photo to various Hollywood film studios and taking acting, singing, fencing and riding lessons. He changed his name from Roy Fitzgerald to Rock Hudson so it would be shorter, easier to pronounce and sound more masculine. Despite having no acting experience, these steps landed him a bit part in the 1948 film, “Fighter Squadron.” This film marks the beginning of a career that lasted more than 30 years. Over the next few years, Rock scored parts in several films. His talent, stature and good looks made him an alluring box office draw. In the early 1950s Rock began to win more major parts, acting opposite Yvonne De Carlo in “Scarlet Angel” and “Sea Devils,” and starring in movies such as “Magnificent Obsession,” with Jane Wyman, “The Lawless Breed” and “Seminole.” In 1956, Rock starred in “Giant” with James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor, a role for which he won a Best Actor Academy Award nomination.

He also acted in a 1957 film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s “A Farewell to Arms.” The next year, Look magazine named Rock “Star of the Year.” Rock married his agent’s secretary, Phyllis Gates, in 1955. It was an instant attraction for both: Rock admired the way Phyllis didn’t treat him like a movie star, and Phyllis was swept away by his flawless charm. However, the union lasted three short years. Rock would travel constantly, shooting new films or visiting with friends, leaving Phyllis at home. Her best efforts to salvage the marriage were in vain, as Rock started to losing interest in the marriage while his burgeoning film career was taking off. Phyllis filed for divorce in 1958 and neither married again.

Rock starred opposite Doris Day in the 1959 film “Pillow Talk.” The pair was so successful in this first film that they worked together in two other romantic comedies of the early 1960s, “Lover Come Back” and “Send Me No Flowers.” While his popularity as a handsome leading man in films continued, the 1970s brought Rock into a new medium: television. From 1971 to 1977, he starred opposite Susan St. James in the popular television series “McMillan and Wife.” Although he made fewer movies in the 1970s, Rock did star in “Showdown” with Dean Martin (1973) and “Avalanche” with Mia Farrow (1978), among others. Rock had a stint on the popular television series “Dynasty” from 1984 to 1985. His last Hollywood movie was the 1984 film, “The Ambassador.” Rock began having health problems in the early 1980s. After years of heavy smoking, he underwent quintuple bypass heart surgery in 1981.

His health continued to decline when, three years later, Rock announced that he was dying from AIDS. Because he was the first celebrity to publicly acknowledge his suffering from the disease, Rock’s illness changed the overwhelming perception of AIDS and brought new attention to the epidemic. Tragically, Rock died of the disease on October 2, 1985 in Beverly Hills, California. His remains were cremated and scattered at sea. Rock completed nearly 70 motion pictures and starred in several television productions during a career that lasted over three decades. An incredible film icon, Rock’s timeless influence in Hollywood will live on for generations. IMDb: Most Popular Males Who Died Of "aids" Most Popular Males Who Died Of "aids" 1-50 of 619 names. Sort by: STARmeter▲ | A-Z | Height | Birth Date | Death Date 1. Kevin Peter Hall Actor, Predator 2 This African American actor attended Penn Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He started his junior year at 6' 5" and finished it at 6' 9"! He played basketball throughout his high-school years and won a scholarship. He averaged 18 points a game and 10 rebounds!

He played basketball during college... 2. Rock Hudson Actor, Giant Rock Hudson was born Roy Harold Scherer, Jr. in Winnetka, Illinois, to Katherine (Wood), a telephone operator, and Roy Harold Scherer, an auto mechanic. He was of German, Swiss-German, English, and Irish descent. His parents divorced when he was eight years old. He failed to obtain parts in school plays because he couldn't remember lines... 3. Denholm Elliott Actor, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Much-loved character actor who specialised in playing slightly sleazy/slightly eccentric and often flawed upper middle class English gentlemen. His career spanned nearly 40 years, becoming a well-known face both in Britain and in the States. 4. Anthony Perkins Actor, Psycho Anthony Perkins was born April 4, 1932 in New York City to Janet Esselstyn (Rane) and Osgood Perkins , an actor of both stage and film. His paternal great-grandfather was noted engraver Andrew Varick Stout Anthony. Perkins attended the Brooks School, the Browne & Nichols School, Columbia University and Rollins College... 5. Robert Reed Actor, The Brady Bunch 6.

Freddie Mercury Soundtrack, Metropolis Freddie Mercury was born on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar. His parents, Bomi and Jer Bulsara, sent him off to a private school in India, from 1955 til 1963. In 1964 Freddie and his family flew to England. Freddie was very delighted to come to England. In 1966 he started his education at the Ealing College of Art... 7. Rick Aviles Actor, Waterworld 9. Howard E. Rollins Jr. Actor, In the Heat of the Night Howard E. Rollins Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1950. He was the youngest of four children born to Howard E. Rollins Sr. (steelworker) and Ruth R. Rollins (domestic worker). Rollins graduated from Towson State College, where he studied theater. His first break into acting came when a friend convinced him to try out for a role in "Of Mice and Men" at a local Baltimore theater... 10. Stephen Stucker Actor, Airplane!

Stephen Stucker was a marvelously wild and dynamic free-spirited actor who specialized in deliciously broad portrayals of memorably outrageous characters in a handful of comedies made in the 70's and 80's. Stucker was born on July 2, 1947 in Des Moines, Iowa. He attended Lincoln School in Alameda, California... 11. Liberace Self, Another World Most remembered for his extravagant costumes and trademark candelabra placed on the lids of his flashy pianos, Liberace was loved by his audiences for his music talent and unique showmanship. He was born as Wladziu Valentino Liberace on May 16, 1919, into a musical family, in Wisconsin. His mother, Frances Liberace (née Zuchowski)... 12. John Holmes Actor, World of Sexual Fantasy Born John Curtis Estes on August 8, 1944, in rural Pickaway County, Ohio, the youngest of four children, porn legend John Holmes was raised by a religious fanatic mother named Mary and an abusive alcoholic stepfather named Harold Bowman. He was a bible student, but at the age of 16 dropped out of school... 13.

Paul Shenar Actor, Scarface Attractive, dark-featured character actor with a voice like thunder, and eyes like a wolf, who was featured in less than sympathetic roles throughout his career. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Albert Paul Shenar attended the University of Wisconsin. Soon after graduation, he relocated to New York City... 14. Richard Hunt Actor, The Muppet Show Richard Hunt did not have a face known to many -- his voice was known more than anything else. He was a major stronghold behind Jim Henson's "Muppets". 'Scooter', 'Janice', 'Sweetums' and a few others, were some of the "Muppets" that Richard was a performer and puppeteer of. He helped pave the way for Jim Henson and his company from the 1970s through the early 90s... 15. Frank Silva Actor, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me A native of central California, Frank Silva majored in theater at San Francisco State University where he received a master's degree in light design. He worked with director David Lynch on several of his movies (Dune, Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart) as a prop master and set decorator. While Silva was working...

16. Ian Charleson Actor, Gandhi Being born and raised in Edinburgh, Charleson attended the Royal High School and then went on to attend Edinburgh University. He initially studied architecture but switched to an MA degree after cultivating an interest in acting. He won a place at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art after graduating from Edinburgh. 17. John Megna Actor, To Kill a Mockingbird 19. Tom Villard Actor, My Girl Thomas Louis Villard grew up in Spencerport, New York. He has two brothers and one sister. After high school, Tom attended Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania for two years. After college, he moved to New York City. There he attended the Lee Strasberg Acting Studio and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts... 20. Leonard Frey Actor, Fiddler on the Roof Leonard Frey originally wanted to become an artist, but in college he became interested in acting. He made his stage debut in an off-Broadway production of "Little Mary Sunshine" and his film debut as a celebrant in Passages from James Joyce's Finnegans Wake , but he first rose to prominence in the role of Harold, the self-proclaimed "Jew fairy"...

21. Dack Rambo Actor, All My Children Dack (given name Norman) and identical twin brother, Dirk Rambo (Orman), were born in sunny California in 1941. Dack's noticeable difference was a mole on his left cheek. Both happened upon an acting career, at age 21, after being discovered by Loretta Young for her TV show, while sitting in a church pew... 22. Tony Richardson Director, Tom Jones 23. Michael Carmine Actor, *batteries not included Michael Carmime, a born-and-bred New Yorker, graduated from the "Fame"-d High School of the Performing Arts at the age of sixteen and went on to study his craft at the California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts) in Valencia. He made his first appearance before the cameras as an extra in "Rollercoaster" and received his first speaking part on "Hill Street Blues" playing Ramos... 24. Derek Jarman Director, Caravaggio 25.

Eazy-E Thanks, Straight Outta Compton Eric Lynn Wright, better known by his stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper who performed solo and as a member of the group NWA Wright is affectionately called "The Godfather Of Gangsta Rap." He was born in Compton, California. After dropping out of high school in the tenth grade, he... 26. Dennis Stewart Actor, Grease 27. Isaac Asimov Writer, Bicentennial Man Isaac Asimov was born Isaak Judah Ozimov, on January 2, 1920, in Petrovichi shtetl, near Smolensk, Russia. He was the oldest of three children. His father, named Judah Ozimov, and his mother, named Anna Rachel Ozimov (nee Berman), were Orthodox Jews. Ozimov family were millers (the name Ozimov comes from the eponymous sort of wheat in Russian)... 28. Charlie Barnett Actor, D.C.

Cab He first made a name for himself in the late 1970s and early 1980s, performing several shows of raunchy comedy a day at outdoor parks in New York City, most notably in Washington Square Park, where he competed for crowds with musicians, Frisbees players, jugglers and other entertainers. Charlie was... 29. Emile Ardolino Director, Dirty Dancing 30. Howard Ashman Music Department, Aladdin A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Howard Ashman moved to New York City in 1974 and began writing plays while working as an editor in a publishing house. His work attracted attention and he became WPA Theatre's artist director in 1977. In 1982, Ashman collaborated with composer Alan Menken on the musical "Little Shop of Horrors"... 31. Ray Sharkey Actor, The Idolmaker 32. Larry Roberts Actor, Lady and the Tramp Larry Roberts was born Lawrence Saltzman on September 28, 1926. He was the only child of Robert E. and Mabel (Haber) Saltzman. Larry was a native of Cleveland, Ohio.

After Larry's parents divorced, his father moved to Los Angeles. During World War II, Larry served with General Patton's Third Army in France... 33. Jeffrey Mylett Actor, Godspell Jeffrey was born on June 8th in North Canton, Ohio. He attended Hoover High School there and always knew he wanted to be an actor. He went on to Carnegie-Mellon University but dropped out in 1969, and moved to New York. He was called back awhile later by a college friend, John-Michael Tebelak, who was creating the musical GODSPELL for his master's thesis in college... 34. Robert Drivas Actor, Cool Hand Luke Actor-turned-director Robert Drivas showed dark, brooding power and strong potential on the 60s stage, film and TV but, in the long run, did not achieve the kind of success he deserved. Born on November 21, 1938, the Chicago native initially studied his craft at the Universities of Chicago and Miami... 35. Gary Bond Actor, Zulu Gary James Bond was an English actor and singer, born in Liss, Hampshire.

Although his family were in industrial and military occupations, from an early age he wanted to be an actor. His father's death in December 1955 freed him to make his own decisions and, following schooling at Churcher's College, Petersfield, he won a scholarship to the Central School of Speech and Drama... 36. Peter Allen Soundtrack, Muriel's Wedding 37. Rudolf Nureyev Self, I Am a Dancer He was an ethnic Tatar. He was educated at the Leningrad Ballet School and starred with Kirov Ballet. His first film was a USSR short Le Corsaire (1958). While performing in Paris in 1961 he defected to the West. He then performed internationally, becoming an Austrian citizen in 1982. The English/French documentary I Am a Dancer ... 38. Joel Crothers Actor, Dark Shadows 43.

Franklyn Seales Actor, Silver Spoons Franklyn Seales was a stage and television actor best remembered for playing the finicky business manager Dexter Stuffins on the NBC sit-com "Silver Spoons." He also appeared in films, most notably as the real-life cop killer in "The Onion Field." One of eight children, Seales was born in 1952 on the Caribbean island of St... 44. Marcelino Sánchez Actor, The Warriors Born Marcelino Sánchez on December 5, 1957, in Cayey, Puerto Rico, he died of AIDS-related cancer in his Hollywood home on November 21, 1986. Sanchez began acting in the late 1970s. His third film role was that of Rembrandt, a young, naïve gang member with a flair for spray painting in The Warriors ... 45. Néstor Almendros Cinematographer, Kramer vs. Kramer One of the highest appraised contemporary cinematographers. He was born in Spain but moved to Cuba by age 18 to join his exiled anti-Franco father. In Havana, he founded a cineclub and wrote film reviews.

Then, he went on to study in Rome at the Centro Sperimentale. He directed six shorts in Cuba and two in New York... 46. Michael McDowell Writer, Beetlejuice McDowell was born in Enterprise, Alabama. According to his biography in the 1985 edition of Toplin, McDowell lived in Medford, Massachusetts. He also maintained a residence in Hollywood with his sister Ann and adventurer-filmmaker Peter Lake. The biography described a typical day: McDowell "writes in... 47. Cyril Collard Writer, Les nuits fauves He made only three films in his relatively brief life but Cyril Collard certainly extended his "15 minutes of fame" to near cult status with the release of his last, the bold and unflinching Savage Nights . The notorious French filmmaker, actor, writer, musician and poet was born in 1957 of libertine Parisians who gave him a standard Catholic education in Versailles... 48. Rock Hudson | American actor | Britannica.com American actor Alternative Titles: Roy Fitzgerald, Roy Harold Scherer, Jr.

Rock Hudson Elvis Presley Rock Hudson, original name Roy Harold Scherer, Jr., later Roy Fitzgerald (born November 17, 1925, Winnetka , Illinois , U.S.—died October 2, 1985, Beverly Hills , California ), American actor noted for his good looks and movie roles during the 1950s and ’60s and popular television series in the 1970s. A popular actor of modest talent, Hudson was one of the first known Hollywood celebrities to die of AIDS-related complications; the extensive publicity surrounding his death drew attention to the disease. Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman in All That Heaven Allows (1955), directed by … © 1955 Universal International Pictures; photograph from a private collection After serving in the navy during World War II , Roy Fitzgerald went to Hollywood in 1946 to pursue an acting career. He found work as a truck driver but spent his spare time idling outside of studio gates and sending photographs of himself to various producers.

In 1947 talent scout Henry Willson took an interest in him and invented a new name for his protégé: Rock Hudson—Rock for the Rock of Gibraltar and Hudson for the Hudson River . Despite a number of initial setbacks, owing to a complete lack of training as an actor, Hudson signed with Warner Brothers and played his first role in Fighter Squadron (1948). A year later, his contract was purchased by Universal Pictures , which provided him with some much-needed acting lessons. At Universal, Hudson graduated from bit parts to larger roles in a succession of westerns and adventure films, and he completed some 28 films in six years. He played a leading role in Douglas Sirk ’s tearjerker Magnificent Obsession (1954) as a repentant scoundrel who selflessly dedicates himself to the woman he accidentally blinded. The film established Hudson as a star, and he went on to play sympathetic protagonists in several more of Sirk’s melodramas and stylized “women’s pictures.” Hudson’s best film role is considered to be that of an earnest, old-fashioned Texas cattle baron in Giant (1956), for which he received an Academy Award nomination.

By the end of the 1950s, Hudson had become one of Hollywood’s most popular and profitable male stars. Rock Hudson and Dorothy Malone in Written on the Wind (1956), directed by … Copyright © 1956 Universal Pictures Company, Inc. During the 1960s Hudson moved away from sentimentality and melodrama to play the series of roles for which he is best known. Paired with Doris Day in Pillow Talk (1959), Lover Come Back (1961), and Send Me No Flowers (1964), Hudson proved that he had a significant talent for light comedy. He repeated the success of those films in other sex farces, notably director Howard Hawks ’s Man’s Favorite Sport? (1964), in which Hudson delivered a performance compared by critics to Cary Grant at his best. Britannica Stories Ancestry of Rock Hudson - RoyalWeb Ancestry of Rock Hudson The ancestry of Rock Hudson Copyright 2007-2008, Will Johnson, wjhonson@aol.com , Professional Genealogist, All Rights Reserved. This page is locked, if you'd like to add or correct anything, please email me.

I am available for hire to assist you to trace your family or create a biography of you or your relative. I charge $25 per hour. If you enjoy the research done here, consider making a financial contribution to keep research like this going. My latest version of this article is now at "Ancestry of Rock Hudson" at Examiner.com Contents 15 Mrs Enright Rock Hudson Rock Hudson was an American actor, born as Roy Harold Scherer, Jr on Nov 17 , 1925 in Winnetka, Cook County, Illinois , the son of Roy Harold Scherer, Sr an auto mechanic, and his wife Katherine "Kay" Wood (d. 1977), who had just married the year before. Rock's eight-grandparent ethnic-mix is German/Swiss/Swiss/Swiss/English/English/Irish/Irish. Roy Sr left the family in 1932 and went to California. After Roy left, Kay started dating Wally FitzGerald who worked shoveling coal at the Winnetka Water Works. Oppenheimer's book calls Wally a "tall, handsome, ex-Marine".

Kay and Wally married and he adopted Roy who then became called Roy FitzGerald. Oppenheirmer states that Roy hated Wally from the age of nine, and tried to stay away from home as much as possible. (pg 6) Wally and Kay fought and he would beat her and Roy. They divorced, Kay married him a second time, and they divorced again when Roy was fifteen. Roy FitzGerald went to New Trier High School in Cook County, Illinois, graduating in 1944. Kay became a live-in housekeeper for a wealthy family, and also a telephone operator. For several years they lived above Walgreen's Drug Store. Roy Sr had kept in touch with his first family, and when Roy was 16 he went to California to visit his father. In 1943 Rock enlisted in the U.S. Navy from which he was discharged in 1946. He returned to Winnetka for a time, living with his mother, but in order to persue his dream of becoming an actor he decided to relocate to California. For a short time he lived with his father who was then living with a wife and daughter in Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California .

Sara Davidson states that his first check for acting, which he'd kept for sentimental reasons, is made out for ten dollars, dated Mar 19, 1948, and endorsed to [his first live-in lover] Kenneth G Hodge . Primary documents for 1 "Rock Hudson: In Winnetka We Called Him Roy" , By Maura Rogan hosted at Winnetka History stating : "A 1929 phone directory lists the Scherer's home at 1017 Elm." 1930 New Trier, Cook County, Illinois showing : "Raymond Scherer, 30, IL, married at age 24, Proprietor, Garage; Katherine, 30 IL/England/IL; Raymond H 4 1/12; Lloyd 23 brother, IL, Helper, Gas Station" New York Times, obituary "Rock Hudson" Oct 3 , 1985 "Rock Hudson, Screen Idol, Dies at 59" stating such bits as : "...During the Depression, his father lost his job as an automobile mechanic and left the family.

His mother, a telephone operator, remarried, and the actor, then 8 years old, took the surname of his stepfather Wallace Fitzgerald. His mother's second marriage ended after nine years." "In 1944, he joined the Navy and served in the Philippines as an airplane mechanic." None of his male lovers were named, his one-time wife Phyllis Gates was. Seconday sources Rock Hudson, His Story, by Rock Hudson and Sara Davidson; William Morrow and Company, New York. 1986 Click this ISBN 0688064728 to see it at Amazon Idol Rock Hudson : The True Story of an American Folk Hero, by Jerry Oppenheimer and Jack Vitek. Villard Books, 1986. ISBN 0394554892 Click this ISBN 0688064728 to see it at Amazon Roy Harold Scherer Roy Harold Scherer was born Jun 3 , 1899 in Illinois possibly in Richland County, the son of Illinois natives Theodore Scherer, a farmer, and his wife Lena M Blatter.

In 1924 Roy married Catherine "Kay" Wood and they had one child called then Roy Harold Scherer, Jr, but who would later be known as Rock Hudson. It's unclear why he is called Raymond in the 1930 census, but his SSDI entry calls him Roy and biographers have since called him Roy as well. In 1932, Roy deserted the family and moved to California. Rock's obituary in the New York Times, states that Roy had lost his job. By 1934, Roy had married to a Florence A somebody, and they are both registered living in Los Angeles City. In the 1930 census, Roy is a Proprietor of a Garage, and in the 1936 Voting Register in Los Angeles he is a mechanic. Meanwhile Kay started dating Wally FitzGerald. They eventually married and Rock Hudson would now be known as Roy FitzGerald. It was under this name that he was discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1946 and decided to relocate to California to persue his dream of being an actor. At first he lived with his father in Long Beach, but after a short time he moved out.

Roy married thirdly Edith unknown who died shortly before he did. Sara Davidson tells the story that Roy was mentally gone in his old age. His last wife died and he thought she was sleeping, someone else determined that she had died. Roy had an adopted daughter with whom he lived for a short time. It's unclear if he died at her home. Edith died in Aug, and Roy died in Nov 1982 possibly at Grant's Pass, Oregon which was their last residence.

Primary documentation for 2 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index online at Cyberdrive showing : "Theodore Scherer to Lena Blatter May 3, 1896 Richland County" 1910 Census of Preston, Richland County, Illinois showing : "Theodore Scherer, 40, married 13 years ago, IL/Germany/Switz, Farmer; Lena, 36, mother of 6, 6 living b IL/Switz/IL; Pearl 12, b IL; Roy 10 b IL; Luther 8 b IL; Jerome 6 b IL; Julia 6 b IL; Lloyd 3 b IL" 1920 Census of Preston, Richland County, Illinois showing : "Theodore Scherer, 49, b IL/Switz/Switz; Lena M, 45, b IL/Switz/Switz; Pearl E 22 b IL; Roy H 20, b IL; Luther A, 18, b IL; Jerome G 15, b IL; Julia A 15, b IL; Lloyd L, 12, b IL; Evlyn E 2 3/

12 b IL" "Rock Hudson: In Winnetka We Called Him Roy" , By Maura Rogan hosted at Winnetka History stating : "A 1929 phone directory lists the Scherer's home at 1017 Elm." 1930 New Trier, Cook County, Illinois showing : "Raymond Scherer, 30, IL, married at age 24, Proprietor, Garage; Katherine, 30 IL/England/IL; Raymond H 4 1/12; Lloyd 23 brother, IL, Helper, Gas Station" California Voter Registrations, 1900-1968: Los Angeles City, 1932 : "Roy H Scherer, 247 W 28th St, D[emocrat]" Los Angeles City, 1934 : "Roy H Scherer, 342 W 40th Pl, Democrat; Mrs Florence A Scherer, 342 W 40th Pl, Democrat" Los Angeles City, 1936 : "Roy H Scherer, 342 W 40th Pl, mechanic, Democrat;

 Mrs Florence A Scherer, 342 W 40th Pl, at home, Democrat" Los Angeles City, 1942 : "Mrs Florence A Scherer, 342 W 40th Pl, at home, Democrat; Roy H Scherer, 342 W 40th Pl, mechanic" Los Angeles City, 1946 : "Mrs Florence A Scherer, 342 W 40th Pl, Democrat; Roy H Scherer, 342 W 40th Pl, Democrat" Los Angeles City, 1948 : "Mrs Florence A Scherer, 342 W 40th Pl, Democrat; Roy H Scherer, 342 W 40th Pl, Democrat" Social Security Death Index showing : "Edith Scherer born 18 Jul 1913, died Aug 1982, last residence Grants Pass, Josephine County, Oregon; SSN issued by Michigan" Social Security Death Index showing : "Roy Scherer, born 3 Jun 1899, died Nov 1982, last residence Grants Pass, Josephine County, Oregon;

 SSN issued by California" New York Times, obituary "Rock Hudson" Oct 3 , 1985 "Rock Hudson, Screen Idol, Dies at 59" stating such bits as : "...During the Depression, his father lost his job as an automobile mechanic and left the family.

His mother, a telephone operator, remarried, and the actor, then 8 years old, took the surname of his stepfather Wallace Fitzgerald." Secondary sources for 2 Rock Hudson, His Story, by Rock Hudson and Sara Davidson; William Morrow and Company, New York. 1986 Click this ISBN 0688064728 to see it at Amazon Katherine Wood Katherine "Kay" Wood was born about 1900/1 in Illinois probably in Cook County to James Wood and Mary Enright. In 1924 she married Roy Harold Scherer and they had one son Roy Harold Scherer, Jr who would later become known as Rock Hudson . When Rock was a young boy, Roy Sr left the family and moved to California. Kay began dating Wally FitzGerald, a "tall, handsome, ex-marine" according to Oppenheimer's book. They married, divorced and married again and divorced again when Roy was 15. Wally adopted Roy who then became known as Roy FitzGerald. Oppenheimer states that Roy hated Wally from the age of nine, and tried to stay away from home as much as possible.

(pg 6) Kay and her son Roy lived in Illinois until sometime after Roy joined the U.S. Navy in 1943. When Roy was discharged in 1946 he went to live with his father in California for a short time. It's not clear where Kay was during this period, but by the 50's she is seen in publicity photos with her son, now called Rock Hudson.

Primary documentation for 3 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index online at Cyberdrive showing : "James Wood to Mary E Enright Dec 2, 1891 Cook County" 1920 Census of New Trier, Cook County, Illinois showing "James Wood, 53, b England/England/England; Mary 55, b Illinois/Ireland/Ireland; John H 22; Kathrine 19; David 18; John Anderson 34; Gustaw Shaw 42" "Rock Hudson: In Winnetka We Called Him Roy" , By Maura Rogan hosted at Winnetka History stating : "A 1929 phone directory lists the Scherer's home at 1017 Elm." 1930 New Trier, Cook County, Illinois showing : "Raymond Scherer, 30, IL, married at age 24, Proprietor, Garage; Katherine, 30 IL/England/IL; Raymond H 4 1/12; Lloyd 23 brother, IL, Helper, Gas Station" 1930 Census of New Trier, Cook County, Illinois showing : "James Wood, 6

4, England, married at 25; Mary E 65, married at 26" New York Times, obituary "Rock Hudson" Oct 3 , 1985 "Rock Hudson, Screen Idol, Dies at 59" stating such bits as : "...During the Depression, his father lost his job as an automobile mechanic and left the family.

His mother, a telephone operator, remarried, and the actor, then 8 years old, took the surname of his stepfather Wallace Fitzgerald. His mother's second marriage ended after nine years." Secondary sources for 3 Rock Hudson, His Story, by Rock Hudson and Sara Davidson; William Morrow and Company, New York. 1986 Click this ISBN 0688064728 to see it at Amazon Idol Rock Hudson : The True Story of an American Folk Hero, by Jerry Oppenheimer and Jack Vitek. Villard Books, 1986.

Click this ISBN 0688064728 to see it at Amazon Theodore Scherer Primary documentation for 4 1880 Census of Preston, Richland County, Illinois showing : "Adam Schehur, 48, Germany; Elizabeth 37 Switzerland; (several children including) Theodore 10 IL" Illinois Statewide Marriage Index online at Cyberdrive showing : "Theodore Scherer to Lena Blatter May 3, 1896 Richland County" 1900 Census of Preston, Richland County, Illinois showing : "Theodore Scherer, Jan 1870, married 4 years ago, IL/Germany/Germany, Farmer; Lena, Oct 1874, married 4 years ago, mother of 2, 2 living, b IL/Switz/IL; Pearl Oct 1897 b IL; Roy b Jun 1899 IL; Adnise?

Schmoker, cousin, Jan 1873, IL/Switz/IL" 1910 Census of Preston, Richland County, Illinois showing : "Theodore Scherer, 40, married 13 years ago, IL/Germany/Switz, Farmer; Lena, 36, mother of 6, 6 living b IL/Switz/IL; Pearl 12, b IL; Roy 10 b IL; Luther 8 b IL; Jerome 6 b IL; Julia 6 b IL; Lloyd 3 b IL" 1920 Census of Preston, Richland County, Illinois showing : "Theodore Scherer, 49, b IL/Switz/Switz; Lena M, 45, b IL/Switz/Switz; Pearl E 22 b IL; Roy H 20, b IL; Luther A, 18, b IL; Jerome G 15, b IL; Julia A 15, b IL; Lloyd L, 12, b IL; Evlyn E 2 3/12 b IL" 1930 Census of Preston, Richland County,

 Illinois showing : "Theodore Scherer, 60, married at 21, b IL/OH/IL, Farmer; Lena M, 55, married at 21, b IL/Switz/IL; Evyline E, 12, b IL" Lena M Blatter Primary documentation for 5 1880 Census of Olney, Richland County, Illinois showing : "John H Blatter, 39 b Switz; Mary 25 b IL; (and several children including) Lenia 6 b IL" Illinois Statewide Marriage Index online at Cyberdrive showing : "Theodore Scherer to Lena Blatter May 3, 1896 Richland County" 1900 Census of Preston, Richland County, Illinois showing : "Theodore Scherer, Jan 1870, married 4 years ago, IL/Germany/Germany, Farmer; Lena, Oct 1874, married 4 years ago, mother of 2, 2 living, b IL/Switz/IL; Pearl Oct 1897 b IL; Roy b Jun 1899 IL; Adnise?

Schmoker, cousin, Jan 1873, IL/Switz/IL" 1910 Census of Preston, Richland County, Illinois showing : "Theodore Scherer, 40, married 13 years ago, IL/Germany/Switz, Farmer; Lena, 36, mother of 6, 6 living b IL/Switz/IL; Pearl 12, b IL; Roy 10 b IL; Luther 8 b IL; Jerome 6 b IL; Julia 6 b IL; Lloyd 3 b IL" 1920 Census of Preston, Richland County, Illinois showing : "Theodore Scherer, 49, b IL/Switz/Switz; Lena M, 45, b IL/Switz/Switz; Pearl E 22 b IL; Roy H 20, b IL; Luther A, 18, b IL; Jerome G 15, b IL; Julia A 15, b IL; Lloyd L, 12, b IL; Evlyn E 2 3/12 b IL" 1930 Census of Preston, Richland County,

 Illinois showing : "Theodore Scherer, 60, married at 21, b IL/OH/IL, Farmer; Lena M, 55, married at 21, b IL/Switz/IL; Evyline E, 12, b IL" James Wood Born in England about 1866/7.

By 1891 he had moved to the Chicago area where that year he married Mary E Enright. In 1900 they lived in Chicago. From at least 1910 to at least 1930 they lived in New Trier, and possibly this is where they died and are buried as well. Primary documentation for 6 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index online at Cyberdrive showing : "James Wood to Mary E Enright Dec 2, 1891 Cook County" 1900 Census of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois showing : "James WOOD 34; Mary 35; Charles E 6; Timothy J 6; John H 2; Bernard KARELLA 32" 1930 Census of New Trier, Cook County, Illinois showing : "James Wood, 64, England/England/England, married at 25; Mary E 65, married at 26, b IL/Ireland/Ireland" Adam Schehur Adam Schehur was born abt 1832 in Germany.

Primary documentation for 8 1880 Census of Preston, Richland County, Illinois showing : "Adam Schehur, 48, Germany; Elizabeth 37 Switzerland; (several children including) Theodore 10 IL" Secondary sources for 8 Adam Scherer pedigree on OneWorldTree Elizabeth Dietrich Born in Switzerland Primary documentation for 9 1880 Census of Preston, Richland County, Illinois showing : "Adam Schehur, 48, Germany; Elizabeth 37 Switzerland; (several children including) Theodore 10 IL" John H Blatter Born in Switzerland Primary documentation for 10 1880 Census of Olney, Richland County, Illinois showing : "John H Blatter, 39 b Switz; Mary 25 b IL; (and several children including) Lenia 6 b IL" Mary Jane Demuth Born abt 1854/5 in Illinois of Swiss-immigrant parents.

Primary documentation for 11 1880 Census of Olney, Richland County, Illinois showing : "John H Blatter, 39 b Switz; Mary 25 b IL/Switz/Switz; (and several children including) Lenia 6 b IL" Secondary sources Mary Jane Demuth pedigree on OneWorldTree Mr Wood Rock Hudson - Biography - IMDb Rock Hudson Biography Showing all 111 items Jump to: Overview (5) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (1) | Trade Mark (5) | Trivia (69) | Personal Quotes (24) | Salary (6) Overview (5) 6' 5" (1.96 m) Mini Bio (1) Rock Hudson was born Roy Harold Scherer, Jr. in Winnetka, Illinois, to Katherine (Wood), a telephone operator, and Roy Harold Scherer, an auto mechanic. He was of German, Swiss-German, English, and Irish descent. His parents divorced when he was eight years old. He failed to obtain parts in school plays because he couldn't remember lines. After high school he was a postal employee and during WW II served as a Navy airplane mechanic.

After the war he was a truck driver. His size and good looks got him into movies. His name was changed to Rock Hudson, his teeth were capped, he took lessons in acting, singing, fencing and riding. One line in his first picture, Fighter Squadron (1948), needed 38 takes. In 1956 he received an Oscar nomination for Giant (1956) and two years later Look magazine named him Star of the Year. He starred in a number of bedroom comedies, many with Doris Day , and had his own popular TV series McMillan & Wife (1971). He had a recurring role in TV's Dynasty (1981) (1984-5). He was the first major public figure to announce he had AIDS, and his worldwide search for a cure drew international attention. After his death his long-time lover Marc Christian successfully sued his estate, again calling attention to the homosexuality Rock had hidden from most throughout his career.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Ed Stephan < stephan@cc.wwu.edu> Spouse (1) Moved from westerns to sob stories to sosphisticated comedies Towering, sculpted frame Ideal leading-man good looks Trivia (69) Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#28). [1995] The Prudential Life Insurance Co. stopped using its slogan "Own A Piece Of The Rock" after Hudson died of AIDS and many jokes were made about him and the slogan. He was cremated and his ashes are scattered into the sea. Went to the same school, New Trier Township High School East (Winnetka, Illinois), as Ann-Margret , Charlton Heston , Ralph Bellamy , Hugh O'Brian , Bruce Dern , Penelope Milford , Virginia Madsen and Liz Phair . Worked as a truck driver when he first moved to Los Angeles, but he spent his spare time idling outside of studio gates and sending photographs of himself to various producers. Talent scout Henry Willson coined the stage name, "Rock Hudson", by combining the Rock of Gibraltar and the Hudson River.

Although he tried out for roles in school plays, Hudson failed to win any because he could not remember lines. Enamored of movies as a teenager, he worked as an usher. Before taking his first film role, he got his teeth capped and was coached intensively in acting, singing, dancing, fencing and riding. Still, it took no less than 38 takes before he could successfully complete one line in his first picture, Fighter Squadron (1948). Production on the television series The Devlin Connection (1982) was suspended for a year while he was recovering from quintuple heart bypass surgery. By the time he had taken the guest role of Daniel Reece, a suave and stately horse breeder on Dynasty (1981) late in 1984, the AIDS virus was consuming him. Before long, he was suffering from memory loss and was forced to use cue cards to read his lines. He also had difficulty speaking.

The media first began to suspect he had serious health problems when he came to Carmel, California, in July 1985 to help his Pillow Talk (1959) co-star Doris Day launch her cable series, Doris Day's Best Friends (1985). His gaunt appearance and obvious disorientation suddenly became the focus of what was meant to be a joyous reunion of one of Hollywood's favorite on-screen couples. He died just three months later. Involved with Marc Christian during the period he knew he had AIDS, but did not disclose it to Christian. Christian hired Marvin Mitchelson , and sued Hudson's estate for damages and emotional distress. He won a $21.7 million jury award in 1989, which was reduced to $5.5 million in 1991. Underwent emergency quintuple heart bypass surgery to relieve severely clogged coronary arteries in November 1981 after suffering chest pains, and began smoking again soon after leaving the hospital.

Consequently he was very frail during the filming of The Ambassador (1984), while in Israel during the winter of 1983-1984, and he did not get along with his alcoholic co-star Robert Mitchum . Died the same day as George Savalas . He and Savalas' older brother, Telly Savalas appeared in Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971). Hudson and his partner Marc Christian went out of their way while traveling near downtown Los Angeles, so that the couple could meet Michael Jackson during the filming of his award-winning music video, Michael Jackson: Thriller (1983). According to the book, "The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson", the original plan was to call him "Roc" but someone pointed out the possibility of confusion with the 1940s actress, Rochelle Hudson , so a "k" was added and "Roc" became "Rock". Hudson was diagnosed with AIDS on 5 June 1984 but when the signs of illness became apparent, his publicity staff and doctors told the public that he had liver cancer. Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives".

Volume One, 1981- 1985, pages 405-407. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998. His favorite performances were in Giant (1956) and Seconds (1966). When Hudson initially became ill with AIDS, his lover Marc Christian thought he had lung cancer because he was a heavy smoker. Became very close to Roman Gabriel while filming The Undefeated (1969). Following a right-shoulder injury in 1973, often used his left hand to write and pick up objects on McMillan & Wife (1971). Less than a month after announcing he had AIDS, Hudson wrote a check for $250,000 to help get the then-fledgling National AIDS Research Foundation (NARF) off the ground. Following his diagnosis of AIDS in June 1984, Hudson told his doctor that he hoped he would die from a heart attack (he had undergone an emergency quintuple heart bypass in 1981) before the public could find out the truth.

In 1977 he toured 13 cities as King Arthur in the musical "Camelot". He stayed at the White House in May 1984 as a guest of then President Ronald Reagan . First Lady Nancy Reagan wrote to Hudson saying how glad she and her husband were to see him looking well following his operation. A conservative Republican, Hudson joined Ronald Reagan , John Wayne , Irene Dunne and Raymond Massey in campaigning for Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential election. Made "Top 10 stars of the year" a record eight times from 1957 to 1964. His favorite of his films was the Cold War drama Ice Station Zebra (1968). Was very close friends with singer Dusty Springfield . Grew a mustache and sideburns for his role in The Undefeated (1969). Afterwards he decided to retain that look throughout the 1970s. Early in his career he had surgery on his vocal chords to make his voice deeper, and had his teeth capped. The surgery had the unfortunate side effect of making it impossible for Hudson to learn to sing.

Therefore when he played King Arthur in "Camelot" he had to talk his way through the songs, just as Rex Harrison did in My Fair Lady (1964). He was the original choice to play Jason Colby in the Dynasty (1981) spin off The Colbys (1985), but had to turn it down due to his declining health. The part went to Charlton Heston instead. Pat Boone was allowed inside Hudson's Hollywood mansion to pray for his soul as the actor lay dying. Ironically, according to his close friends, Hudson was a lifelong atheist. Was seriously considered for the male lead in Alfred Hitchcock 's Marnie (1964), and actually met with Hitchcock, but was turned down in favor of Sean Connery . In order to make A Farewell to Arms (1957), he turned down Marlon Brando 's role in Sayonara (1957), William Holden 's role in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), and Charlton Heston 's role in Ben-Hur (1959).

The three films he had turned down went on to become hugely successful and were critically acclaimed, while A Farewell to Arms (1957) proved to be one of the biggest flops in history. At the time of his death, his estate was valued at $22 million. After announcing he had AIDS in July 1985, Hudson received telegrams of support from Frank Sinatra , Gregory Peck , Marlene Dietrich , James Garner , Carol Burnett , Ali MacGraw , Jack Lemmon , Richard Dreyfuss , Ava Gardner , Mickey Rooney , Milton Berle and Madonna . President Ronald Reagan , who had recently undergone surgery for colon cancer, personally telephoned him at the hospital. He was very near-sighted and wore glasses all the time off screen. He would rarely allow himself to be photographed wearing glasses though. Although Hudson never publicly came out as gay during his lifetime, he did authorize a biography by Sara Davidson, "Rock Hudson: His Story" (1986), which discussed his private life in great detail. In the last 18 months of his life, his weight dropped from 215 lbs to 140 lbs.

He weighed 126 lbs at the time of his death. Had a priceless record collection, which was taken by Marc Christian after his death. He stood six foot by the time he was fourteen. An accomplished bridge player. He had always been critical of plastic surgery, although in 1981 he had surgery on his eyelids after a cameraman convinced him it would make him look better on screen. He actively sought the leading role in Ice Station Zebra (1968), and after Laurence Harvey backed out of the project, Hudson was cast. He was very disappointed by the box office failure of Seconds (1966), which he considered to be his best performance and had hoped would show the public that he could be a versatile film actor. In 1979 he was involved in a DUI incident when he crashed his car into a palm tree in Los Angeles late one night. Once said he knew had made it in Hollywood after he received more applause and cheers at the premiere of Bend of the River (1952) than the film's star, James Stewart .

He was Universal Studio's first choice to play Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), but was rejected as being too young at 36. Along with Cary Grant , he was regarded as one of the best-dressed male stars in Hollywood. In the summer of 1966 he was released from his studio contract after filming Tobruk (1967) and proceeded to work independently for the rest of his career. It is not known how he contracted AIDS. In Sara Davidson's biography of him, she (quoting a friend indirectly) speculates that he might have picked up the virus through blood transfusions related to his 1981 heart surgery. He signed a contract with Universal Studios to do McMillan & Wife (1971) in 1971 for one of the largest salaries ever seen in television at the time. Although commonly listed as 6'4", he is believed to have downplayed his height. His character is repeatedly referred to as being 6'6" in the film Pillow Talk (1959) and, upon co-starring with John Wayne and James Stewart , he was clearly taller than those very tall stars.

Many sources list him 6'5", which would put him as equal to Vince Vaughn , Tim Robbins and, the tallest leading man per the Guinness Book of World Records, Christopher Lee as the tallest leading men. His agent subtracted two years from his date of birth--from 1925 to 1923--in order to get Hudson more mature roles. Was in talks, with Doris Day and Tony Randall , for a Pillow Talk (1959) sequel at the time he was diagnosed was AIDS. The story reportedly would have him and Doris Day's character being married and dealing with their daughter's upcoming marriage to Tony Randall's son. Universal agreed to loan Hudson to his original studio Warner Bros. in exchange for the services of Warner contractee Virginia Mayo for the potboiler Congo Crossing (1956). MGM offered Universal $750,000 for Hudson to play the starring role in Ben-Hur (1959) but the studio refused. After Husdon had chosen his new name Rock, when it was suggested by agent Henry Willson , the actor objected when Universal tried to shorten the spelling to Roc.

After Raoul Walsh sold Rock Hudson's contract to Universal, he retained the right to his services in one film. This was ultimately settled a decade later, when Walsh was assigned a percentage of the profits from Come September (1961). Hudson was assigned to The Golden Blade (1953) only after Tony Curtis and Farley Granger turned it down. Hollywood writer Sidney Skilosky coined the cliché "Beefcake" to describe Hudson. Despite playing their father in Giant (1956), Hudson was just 6 years older than Carroll Baker , 9 years older than Fran Bennett and 11 years older than Dennis Hopper . In June 2014, he was honored as Turner Classic Movies' Star of the Month. His father left the family and his mother married Wallace Fitzgerald. Hudson's legal name was then changed from Scherer to Fitzgerald. His father was of German and Swiss-German descent. His maternal grandfather was an English immigrant, and his maternal grandmother was born in Illinois, to Irish parents. Personal Quotes (24) His legal name was Roy Fitzgerald. When meeting John F.

Kennedy , the American president remarked: "They say all Fitzgeralds are related", to which Hudson replied, "I guess that would make Ella happy". I had to overcome the name Rock. If I'd been as hip then as I am now, I would have never consented to be named Rock. John Wayne was then the Hollywood legend, and I was on screen with him. The guy is an angel. He saved my life back then when no other film maker wanted to know me. - On The Undefeated (1969) I did a movie [ The Undefeated (1969)] with Duke Wayne [ John Wayne ] and was very surprised to find out he had small feet, wore lifts, and a corset. Hollywood is seldom what it seems. I can't play a loser - I don't look like one. I have no philosophy about acting or anything else. You just do it. And I mean that. You just do it. However, I can say that with ease after thirty-five years. "I am not happy that I am sick. I am not happy that I have AIDS.

But if that is helping others, I can at least know that my own misfortune has had some positive worth." (1985) (In the early 1980s, before his sickness was publicly known) " I always consider my job just as someone working in an office. Past 5 P.M., I lead my very own existence far from the cameras. It's essential for an actor to clearly separate private life from work... essential for me, anyway." I also remember meeting Gary Cooper at a party. I was so impressed that I blurted out that all the stars I had met before had been terrific people. Cooper thought about it for a minute, then said, "Yes, I suppose we are, the ones who are on top. But watch out for the ones who haven't quite made it, or are past it." It was valuable advice. [on Elizabeth Taylor ] She's indestructible. Someone asked me once what my philosophy of life was, and I said some crazy thing. I should have said, how the hell do I know? I love to smoke. I keep hoping someone will discover it's a healthy habit because the smoke kills all the germs in your system.

I love to drink, and I hate exercise. I don't mind going out on the side of a hill and chopping down a tree, but I hate organized exercise. I built a gym in my house but I never use it. I don't even like to walk through it. Nobody is discovered. Ever. Publicity departments loved to say that Lana Turner was discovered sitting at a soda fountain counter, drinking a chocolate soda ... It isn't true. I mean, there are too many interesting-looking people on Earth for that to ever happen. It was the biggest mistake of my career. - On A Farewell to Arms (1957) It was better than I thought. Why didn't I put more into it? - On McMillan & Wife (1971) I welcome my birthdays. Relish them, as a matter of fact. I have confidence now and can look forward to trying new things. I don't think fifty was a crucial age. Forty was, and thirty-nine because I was facing forty. But lately everything has fallen into place. (1983) I've heard that rumor for years and I just don't care about it. I know lots of gays in Hollywood.

Some have tried it on with me, but I've always said, 'Come on, you've got the wrong guy!' As soon as they know that, it's okay! (1978) Television is the monster of all time that eats everything and everybody. When they wanted McMillan & Wife (1971) to go to two hours I said, 'Why? The thing doesn't even hold up for ninety minutes!'. Right from the start, I hated the script. I just didn't believe in that man for one minute. Making fun of death is difficult and dangerous. That scene where I went out and bought a plot for myself in the cemetery - to me it was completely distasteful. - On Send Me No Flowers (1964) If you're cast in crap like Taza, Son of Cochise (1954), it doesn't matter if you experiment with a scene and it goes wrong. Who's gonna notice? But if it works, you can use it in a better film. Like Giant (1956), perhaps. Do you want to know the secret of my second youth? Well, it must have something to do with my being surrounded by men.

Women put too much of a strain on the heart! (1984) [After walking out of Los Angeles premiere of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)] Will someone tell me what the hell this is about? He was like ol' Dad to me, and I was like a son to him, I think. When you're scared and new and you're trying to figure out this thing, and suddenly an older man will reach out and say, 'There, there, it's okay,' that was Douglas Sirk . [on the scene in Pillow Talk (1959) in which he carries Doris Day through the streets of Manhattan] "I could have managed if only one take had been involved, but we went on endlessly, primarily because there was a bit actor who played a cop on the street, and as we passed him, Doris' line was 'Officer, arrest this man,' and the cop was supposed to say to me, 'How you doing, Brad?' but that stupid actor kept calling me Rock. So back to our marks we went for another take and another and another. I'll bet we did that scene twenty times.

That's why we had the shelf for Doris to sit on." (Hudson ultimately had to carry Day on a shelf after numerous takes.) Salary (6)

Question: Actor Roy Harold Scherer was better known by what name?
Answer: Rock Hudson